PROFILE TERRY LOFTUS Responsibilities of current role: Involved in all aspects of producing an independently owned and locally operated local community newspaper. Previous position: Been involved in the printing and newspaper industry for over 25 years. Outline your typical day: As the editor, journalist, typesetter, photographer, sales rep. and every other task required to produce a fortnightly newspaper for one of the remotest suburbs in the remotest city in the world my day usually starts very early, 4.00am. With a fortnightly publication, each day brings different tasks. Period in the industry and career highlights: The Sun City News was started as a monthly publication in July 1997. It was produced as an A3 size publication folded and collated to A4. In January 2003, the publication was converted to full colour tabloid. In our minds we had entered the big world of newspapers. At the same time we created our online version of the Sun City News -- www.suncity.net. au. Since 2003 we have grown beyond all expectations, progressing from a monthly to a fortnightly publication. We also have plans to become a weekly newspaper to meet the needs of our rapidly growing community. Over the past two years our hard work and dedication has begun to show, with the Sun City News being the recipient of three local business awards. What is your greatest achievement to date? Without a doubt establishing the Sun City News as a unique, boutique newspaper that meets the needs of a local community. What is the biggest challenge facing the industry in relation to your field? Small independent newspaper operators are a rare breed. We have a massive passion for our publications, but we need to keep focussed on our biggest threats -- the internet and the larger newspaper corporations. How have newspapers changed since you started in the industry? Computers have allowed the newspaper industry to create publications that we would never have dreamt of a few years ago. Amazing graphics can be created while photo enhancement is only limited by operator's skills. What aspect do you enjoy most about the industry? As a small player in a very big industry, breaking a big story is always exciting. Over the past nine years we have had three major stories -- a massive tax evasion issue; Telstra charges; and, Australia's largest single suburban development commencing. What ingredients make up a successful news management? To be successful, especially as an independent operator you must have a passion for what you do and support from your family to put up with the long hours that are spent constantly improving the newspaper. Name five things that make a great newspaper. Connectivity to your community and readers; innovation; relevance; quality; the ability to break a big story. What is unique about your publication? The Sun City News is 100 per cent independently owned, servicing the needs of its community. I am not afraid to 'dare to be different.' What work-related moment would you like to be able to forget? The month we published the wrong date on one of our editions. What do you do to relax? More work. And when not working having friends around for a well earned beer and a BBQ. The last CD you bought was...? It's been a long time since I bought a CD, but my most recent DVD purchase was series 5 of The Sopranos. I have all the Sopranos. The current book you are reading is...? Women on Top by Nancy Friday. Who do you admire most? My fiancee, Carolyn. Favourite restaurant? Stringbark Winery and Restaurant, Chittering. Favourite holiday destination and why? A holiday? What's that? I do enjoy Tasmania, its like going to another world. Favourite TV show? Desperate Housewives Do you have any pets? One dog, Charlie, a West Highland White x Cavalier. Two large tropical fish tanks. Who inspires you? Two AFL players were a great inspiration to me -- Des Tuddenham and Ron Barassi. I have met both of these sportsmen; they are positively motivated about striving to achieve success. In one year's time, what do you hope to have achieved? For the Sun City News to win a PANPA newspaper award. If you were given an unlimited budget, what is the first thing you'd do to improve your department? As a small independent newspaper, managing finances is challenging. With an unlimited budget, the mind boggles -- improved marketing, the capacity to report more local news and generally improve the product we supply to our readers. Daring to be different Editor/proprietor Sun City News, Yanchep, WA. 48 | PANPA BULLETIN February 2006 Small independent newspaper operators are a rare breed.